{EMMELINE}
July 13th
My heart was beating quickly against my chest and I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead and on my palms. I wanted to find something else to think about, I was scared and more than anything sad that this was going to happen.
Today was the day.
The day I would lose all freedom and give my life entirely to someone else.
Someone I didn't love.
The day I would give up anything and everything I had going for me.
I stared at myself in the full-length mirror in front of me, frowning as I watched the soft gorgeous fabric fall upon my skin. I realized I wasn't alone, my hair was being messed with and my waist was being pushed down in efforts to highlight my figure in the dress.
"You look so gorgeous, Em." My aunt said to me, caressing my hair and fixing the last detail to make it perfect. Who wants to look gorgeous when they're truly dying on the inside?
"I can't imagine how much this dress cost, Nicholas really does love you." My mom commented, making my stomach turn. Ha, loved me? Nicholas Aleshire wasn't capable of such emotion, he wasn't capable of feeling anything for anyone other than himself. I hate the fact that I didn't see it from the start. As for my mom, it seemed like that was all she cared about. After all, the only real reason that I was being forced to marry Nicholas Aleshire was that my family was pretty much in ruins and I was only doing it for them.
I kept thinking about Stefan, I could not believe that he had just left me. Maybe that was also a reason I was doing this. Without Stefan I didn't have anything, I didn't see any point in arguing with my parents. I missed him, the way his touch felt against my skin, his lips and just even the sound of his voice. He was like my oxygen and I felt like I was dying now, I felt numb and pointless. I bit my lip and let out a sigh, turning around.
"I'm going to go downstairs to see if everything is ready, okay? I'll see you at the church." My aunt said and pressed a soft kiss to the back of my hand with tears in her eyes. I nodded at her and then took a deep breath. I could feel my uneven breathing and I couldn't decide whether it was how nervous I was or because this dress was so damn tight on me.
"I'll go with her, Mel. We know she can't make it past the car door." My mom said with a chuckle and I smiled softly at her, receiving an air kiss from her before she walked away. I waited until the door shut before I rushed to find my phone. I was more than disappointed when I didn't see Stefan's name on there, but I knew I would not have to worry about it anymore. I closed my eyes momentarily before opening them and blocking his number. I wanted to cry so badly. I sighed and smiled to the mirror, tying to convince myself I was a happy bride. If I could fool myself it was quite easy to fool everyone else.
By the time I got to the church, the parking lot was extremely full. I couldn't believe this was happening. I had this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Everyone was saying, "you're just nervous." No. I'm miserable!
I got out of the limousine and grabbed my bouquet of flowers, smiling at my dad and beginning to walk towards the door. I saw my brother walk in through a side door and I assumed it was to tell that I was finally here. I closed my eyes and held back my tears, breathing heavily.
"It's okay, Mel. You're going to be okay." He said and smiled at me, kissing my cheek. I smiled back at him and locked arms with him, watching as a little girl came out with a basket of flowers. I heard the instrumental of Here Comes the Bride and I felt myself almost collapse then and there. I sighed softly and pushed through the doors, watching as all my close friends and relatives stared at me. I swallowed thickly and pushed myself through the hall, my eyes locking onto Nicholas Aleshire's. I couldn't believe it, he looked so good. I always thought he was attractive but he looked so sexy right now.
It was like a dream, but deep inside my heart, I knew it wasn't real. I could never have that dream because who I wanted was Stefan. I sighed softly as I walked to him and did my best to smile at him. "Nicholas," My father addressed to him and Nicholas met him with a firm handshake and a charming smile. "I give her to you, after all the years I've taken care of her. I ask of you to take care of her because she is worth more than life itself." My dad said and I couldn't help but stare at Nicholas, watching as he hypocritically nodded. Tears brimmed at the corner of my eyes again.
Nicholas took my arm and we stood in front of the priest who would soon tie our lives together. I zoned out the entire reception, my face blank and I was happy no one else could see me. Nicholas held my hand, which didn't feel reassuring at all. "If anyone has any reason or opposition as to why this couple cannot succeed in marriage, please speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest said, and a moment of silence broke out. Someone, please say something. It was torture to go through this and I hated being in this situation. I didn't deserve it- no one did. I thought times had changed, that it was not necessary for this.
Nicholas and I faced each other and I felt my heart palpitating against my chest at a dangerous rate. We held each other's hands and I stared deep into his eyes. "Do you, Nicholas Kol Aleshire, take Emmeline Carter Lombardi to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest asked, looking at Nicholas.
"I do," Nicholas said without hesitation, smiling down at me. I felt the urge to slap him right there. It's was all a show, it was false and everyone knew. How could they stand there and let this happen?!
"Do you, Emmeline Carter Lombardi, take Nicholas Kol Aleshire to be your lawfully wedded husband?" He asked me and I frowned, pursing my lips. All the fake rehearsed vows, the fake smiles, and the stupid hand holding.
"I-I do," I said, my voice breaking in the beginning, I closed my eyes and tears left my eyes after I said that and all I wanted to do was cry and run away.
"By the power invested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest said with a huge smile on his face, "Nicholas, you may now kiss the bride." He smiled and I froze up, watching his face get closer to mine slowly.
His lips connected to mine, my own trying to move with his like I could, pulling away from him after two decent seconds. I looked down and stared at the crowd staring at us, mentally cursing anything and everything for not stopping this atrocity of a wedding.
That was it.
I'm married.
To him.
I walked down the aisle as I heard everyone clapping and cheering for the young couple "in love." Nicholas was who made me feel the worst, how could he act this way after everything that has happened? I really hope this is worth it.
I really hope my misery and unhappiness is worth all the money in the world to my parents.
-
The after party wasn't any better than the wedding, the same empty feeling, and fake smiling when someone said congratulations were still present and not much else. Soon, it was time for Nicholas and me to have our dance. Luckily, it was like everything else, rehearsed and fake. I tried to find something - anything in Nicholas to make me tolerate being his wife but I couldn't find it. I stared into his eyes, looking for substance and meaning but all I saw was surface. A horrible, immature game of tic tac toe in his head. When the dance ended, Nicholas and I walked back to our table.
"I'm going to the bathroom, okay?" I told him, thinking that people would ask where I was and he should have an answer.
"Want me to come with?" He asked and I shot him a look. Gross.
"No, thanks," I answered and turned around, walking to the front of the house. I heard yelling coming from the main entrance and it seemed to be Jeff, our driver. I walked to where it was coming from and...
No.... it couldn't be...
"Stefan?" I said, my eyes beginning to water and I couldn't believe I was looking at him. I froze and stared at him.
After a few moments, I dismissed all the present staff and opened the gate, standing in front of Stefan. He was wearing casual wear while I was standing in front of him like this.
"That dress is a-" He started and I cut him off. No. He did this to me, he betrayed me and I couldn't run into his arms right now.
"A wedding dress." I nodded rapidly, "yes." I affirmed. I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces and my head was spinning all at the same time. I felt like I was falling off of a building but never touching the ground.
"But... why?" He spoke softly, taking a step closer to me. "Why?" He asked louder. I took a step back and held back all my tears.
"You're asking me?" I said in disbelief, scoffing at him. "After what you did to me?! You come into my life, swearing your eternal love and telling me you wanted to marry me! I was even going to leave my own family for you! I was going to leave it all!" I yelled at him, unable to control myself at this point. All the sad emotions I had were replaced by rage. How could he act all innocent after what he did!
"I love you more than anything in the world. If I left you it wasn't because I wanted to." He said and got closer, now his body inches away from me.
"Of course! Because you felt obligated to do so when your wife came and told me everything!"
"What wife..? What the hell are you talking about, Emmeline?!" He asked, grabbing my shoulders and shaking my body as if the explanation would just come right off of me if he did that.
"Your wife... your wife Kamila. Her and the son you have with her." I explained, tears falling down my face.
"God. God! Please tell me I'm dreaming." He said softly and turned around before turned back to me and shaking his head. "Em, what wife!? What son?! I've never been married!!" He exclaimed, pushing his hands in front of him to rub his face. "What is happening?"
He's lying, he has to be lying. Kamila came all the way to New York to tell me and show him his child.
"What happened is that I got tired. I was overwhelmed with rage.... with sadness-" I started but he cut me off.
"Understand, please... I'm not married. I've never been married. On my mother, I am not married!" He swore and I stared at him. "The night that I left you, I was taken. I was apprehended and beat and they even broke one of my legs." He said and I looked down, seeing that he had a small brace on one of them. It's almost healed since he has it, the time makes sense... "I was in prison and no one gave me a reason why."
There's no way...